Bible Theme: ResponsibilityOur third October lesson explores the idea of being responsible with the blessings God has entrusted to us. Children learn about some little kittens who learned first hand about the consequences and rewards for responsibility!

Preschool Theme: CatsThis page is full of Cat printables! There are train coloring pages, bible verse bracelets, handwriting worksheets and more! We have everything you need for a fun, feline adventure!

"Three Little Kittens" by Paul GaldoneThe favorite Mother Goose rhyme about the three careless kittens who lost their mittens is given added appeal with Galdone's bold and colorful illustrations.

"Mama Cat has Three Kittens" by Denise FlemingSome kittens march to the beat of a different drummer.Mama Cat has three kittens, Fluffy, Skinny, and Boris. Where Mama Cat leads, Fluffy and Skinny follow. But what about Boris-- will he ever stop napping and join the fun?Young children will love Mama Cat and her three kittens. They'll also enjoy looking for three other creatures hidden in every scene. But they'll have to count carefully -- Mama Mouse has a surprise.

Cat Walk Obstacle CourseCat walk obstacle course. Remind the children that cats are amazingly agile. Set up some balance beams and a few other challenging obstacles for the children to try. See how quietly they can walk across the beams. How quickly or slowly. Can they pounce from one beam to the next?

Feline Library Center:Set up a quiet and comfy reading area for all your cat-nappers. Fill it with lots of nice books full of cat pictures, and play some cat sound effects quietly in the background.

Cat Show:Gather lots of stuffed felines and let the children pretend to be in a cat show. Provide some plastic crates for "cages," some brushes and bows to make the ribbons.

Show the children some big colorful photos of different types of cats. You could include wild felines as well as a variety of domestic breeds. Ask the children if any of them has a pet cat. Talk about some of the characteristics of cats, both pet cats and wild cats such as tigers and lions. Discuss how even the biggest wild cat plays, naps, and licks their paws just like our pet cats.

Explain to the children that another word for cats is "felines." "Feline" describes any animal that belongs to the whole big cat family, whether lion, cheetah, lynx, Siamese, or tabby cat. Say "feline" with the children. See whether the children can tell you the beginning sound in "feline."

Show the letter "F." Say the "f" sound. Say, "The furry felines frolic ferociously in the field." Ask the children to hold up a finger for each word beginning with "f" they hear. See if they can say the tongue twister with you.

Read: "Three Little Kittens" by Paul GaldoneYou might like to use the recorded version for a nice change of pace. Discuss the story with the children. What were the kittens responsible for? What does it mean to have a responsibility? What happened when the kittens could not take care of their mittens? What happened when they did what they needed to do (keep up with their mittens and keep them clean?)

Play "Responsibility"by Ally Arnold from her "Yes It's True" CD. Hear this and her other songs about character for children here.

Handwriting Practice: F is for FelineThis is an optional handwriting worksheet for children who are ready to practice tracing the letters of the alphabet. F is for Feline and children write and trace the words.

Little cats aren't always little. The puma, or mountain lion, can be 9 feet tall from head to tail. A snow leaopard can jump farther than some of its big cats relatives. So what makes a little cat a little cat? This book tells all. Softcover. Zoobooks.

Hours of playtime fun are about to happen with a collection of miniature domestic cats in life-like detail. Packed in clear acrylic carrying tube, each cat measures 1.5" to 3"; foot-long tube features spinning globe novelty cap and gold cord handle. Perfect for school projects and dioramas as well! Ages 3 and up.

How do we take care of things God has given us? Do we take care of the bodies he has given us? (Brush our teeth, eat healthy?) What happens when we don't take responsibility for our bodies? (Get sick, toothaches, etc.) How about our toys? How are we responsible for them? Spend a little time discussing responsibility and consequences.

Additional Activity:Have a local animal rescue worker bring in some cats to show the children. Take the opportunity to teach the children about responsible pet ownership.

Mitten Coloring Page & CopyworkThis is an additional coloring page for children to work on handwriting skills. Children design a mitten then trace the words from their weekly bible verse.

Mitten Match-Up File Folder GameThis file folder game is great for children who are working on distinguishing patterns and colors. Mount the mitten boards to the file folder and cut out the missing mittens for playing pieces.